Blanching machine



April 8, 1947. F. M. MOBETH 2,418,519

BLANCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 EE /4s April 8, 1947. F. M. MCBETH 2,418,519

BLANCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 8, 1947.

F. M. M BETH BLANCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 24, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Qi /w April 8, 1947. F. M. M BETH BLANCHING MACHINE Filed Aug 24, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet fREEN/M/ I7. I76 BETH Fatented Apr. 8, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BLANCHING MACHINE Freeman M. McBeth, Harrisburg, Pa. Application August 24, 1943, Serial No. 499,342

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to apparatus for processing vegetables or fruits as a preliminary step to cooking or dehydrating the same.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a machine for blanching vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots and the like, or fruits, after the same have been sliced or otherwise cut up, which is so designed that such operation may be performed expeditiously and continuously to supply the blanched material in an unending stream to a frying or dehydrating apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel blanching machine which is designed in such manner that sediment forming in the blanching tank may be readily removed without stopping or interrupting the operation of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the sediment may be removed from the blanching tank without re-- ducing the quantity or temperature of the blanching liquid in the tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a blanching machine in which the liquid in the blanching tank is kept circulating to maintain an even temperature throughout the same and to assist in maintaining the material being treated upon a conveyor or carrier which moves the material through the tank from the inlet to the of the liquid is lowered in the tank so that when I the liquid level is to be raised the liquid may be extracted from the storage tank, such operation of raising and lowering the liquid level being employed to vary the blanching time for the material being treated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds and the invention will be best understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, with the understanding that the invention is not confined to a strict conformity with the showing in the drawings but may be changed or modified within the scope ofthe appended claims.

In the drawings, wherein there is shown a pre- 2 ferred embodiment of the invention and wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention, parts being broken away.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of the discharge or outlet end of the machine.

Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the receiving or inlet end of the machine.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Referring to the drawings, the machine in its preferred construction comprises a blanching tank B, and a rinsing tank R. The tank B is of elongated rectangular construction and the rinsing tank R is at one end as shown, being preferably integrally constructed therewith, the rear end wall ill of tank B forming one wall of the rinsing tank. The front end wall of the blanching tank is indicated at H, while the side and bottom walls are designated l2 and I3, respectively.

The bottom wall slopes downwardly from the front to the rear end of the blanching tank and the wall 10 is provided at the level of the lowest end of the sloping bottom I3 with a sediment outlet I4 which connects with a discharge or carry-off pipe [5 running to a suitable point of disposal for the matter cleaned out of the blanching tank. In the carry-oil or discharge pipe I5 is a suitable control valve l6. 7

Within the blanching tank B and extending substantially throughout the length thereof is a conveyor l8 of screen-like or recticulate material. The conveyor I8 is mounted upon shafts l9 and 20 which are supported by suitable fixed supports 2| and 22, respectively. The shaft I9 is located in the lower part of the blanching tank B at the front end or that end at which the supply of cut or sliced vegetables or fruit is received, while the shaft 20 is disposed outside the blanching tank and over the rinsing tank R, as best seen in Figure 5, so that the material under treatment will be discharged from the conveyor I 8 directly into this latter tank.

Any suitable means may be provided for conveying the material to the blanching tank, such as the conveyor 23 shown in Figure 5, the material being dropped into the blanching liquid so that it will settle onto the lower end of the conveyor I8.

To insure the deposition of the material onto the lower end of conveyor l8, there is provided the forwardly and downwardly inclined apertured or perforated guard plate 24 which ervicends across the width of the tank and terminates at its lower edge in close proximity to the top run of the conveyor I 8. This prevents the material dropping down upon the bottom l3. and the conveyor has side boards or guards 25 (see Fig. which keep the material from escaping at the sides into the tank.

Secured to the front wall ll of the blanching tank is an imperforate deflector plate 26 which extends the width of the tank and projects forwardly and downwardly beneath the lower end of the conveyor I8, as shown in Figure 5.

Extending across the blanching tank beneath the deflector plate 26 is, a spray head or manifold 21 from which a spray or numerous fine jets of liquid may be projected along the downwardly inclined surface of the bottom l3 of the tank for the purpose of moving toward the discharge I 4 the sediment 28, constituting starchy matter, small particles and the like coming from the material being carried through the liquid on the conveyor l8. The plate 26 confines the spray. to the surface of the bottom and prevents unnecessary agitation of the sediment or disturbance of the blanching liquid.

The spray manifold 21 is connected with a mixer coupling 29 into which pipes 30 and 3| lead, one of which pipes may supply hot and the other cold liquid. These pipes have hand-operated control valves 32 to regulate the liquid supply.

Disposed in'the blanching tank behind the perforated plate 24 and above the plate 26, and extending across the tank, is a liquid circulating manifold 33, which, like manifold 27, is perforated or provided with suitable nozzles to discharge a spray or numerous streams of the blanching liquid forwardly in the tank toward the upwardly inclined conveyor [8. The manifold 33 is connected with a pipe 34 which leads from the discharge of a circulating pump 35 operated by a motor 36. A control valve 31 is coupled in this pipe 34 for regulation of the quantity of liquid supplied the manifold 33.

connected with the pipe 34 between the pump and the control valve 31 is a take-off pipe 38 which connects into the mixer coupling 29 and which has therein a control valve 39. By means of this, take-01f liquid may be supplied under pressure from the'pump to the sediment moving manifold, as is clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 4.

Communicating with the rear or discharge end portion of the blanching tank is an outlet pipe 40 which leads to the intake of the pump. This pipe is provided with a control valve 40a. Also connected with the pump intake is a supply pipe 4| leading from an auxiliary or storage tank 42 and having therein the control valve 43. The tank tive height of the stand-pipe may. be changed so 42 is for the storage of the surplus treating liquid when it becomes necessary to lower the level of the liquid in the blanching tank. When the level is again to be raised, the normally closed valve 43 is opened and the pump draws on liquid from the storage tank and runs it back into the blanching tank until the desired level is reached after which the valve 43 is closed. While the pump is drawing liquid from the storage tank, the valve 40a in the pipe 40 is preferably closed but upon attainment of the desired liquid level in the blanching tank this valve is opened to allow the pump to draw liquid from the outlet end portion of the blanching tank and force it back into the inlet end portion thereof through the pipe 34 that the level of liquid in the tank B may be raised or lowered as conditions may require. As

will be readily understood, the changing of the 5 level of the blanching liquid changes the length of time the vegetables or fruit under treatment will be subjected to the action of the heated blanching liquid as it is carried therethrough on the conveyor.

The desired temperature of the blanching liquid is maintained by means of a. steam coil 4'! disposed horizontally just above the bottom of the tank, as shown in Figure 5. Above this coil at the rear or deeper end of the tank is a horizontal baflie plate 48 functioning to prevent upcurrents in the liquid when the sediment is being flushed from the tank. Any suitable automatic means may be employed for maintaining the desired liquid temperature. Such temperature will vary in accordance with the treatment to be given the sliced'or cut-up vegetable or fruit after the blanching to which it is subjected'in tank 13.

Where the subsequent operation is to be a. frying of the material, as in making potato or other chips, for example, the temperature will range from F. to F. Within such temperature range, the surface starch and sugar is removed and the material maintains an even color.

When the material is to be dehydrated, the blanching or par-boiling is carried out at a temperature ranging from approximately F. to 210 F. so that all bacteria is destroyed and the food will not spoil.

After the material has been carried through the liquid in the blanching tank by the conveyor l8 it is discharged into the rinsing or wash tank R. This tank has rotatably supported therein one shaft 50 of a bucket conveyor generally designated 5|. The tank R is fllled with rinse water which is heated by suitable means, such as the steam coil 52. Appropriate inlet and outlet means 53 and 54, respectively, are provided for supplying water to and draining water from the tank R. As shown, the conveyors I 8 and SI are so arranged that-the blanching tank conveyor I8 discharges directly into the buckets 55 of the conveyor 5|.

Operation of the conveyors l8 and 23 may be accomplished in any suitable manner. The means here illustrated comprises a power shaft 60 extending along one side of the blanching tank and connected with a suitable source of power, not shown. Miter gears 6| on the shaft 60 mesh with corresponding gears 62 carried by stub shafts 63 supported at the side of the tank. Each stub shaft 63 is connected by a sprocket wheel and chain drive, generally designated 64, with a shaft of the adjacent conveyor.

In the operation of the machine, the treating liquid is heated by the coil 41 to the required temperature, ranging from 120' F. to 2109 F., as previously stated, depending upon whether the material is to be prepared for frying or dehydration. The depth oi the liquid is controlled by the adjustable overflow 44.

When the desired liquid temperature has been attained, it may be kept constant by thermostatic control of the heating coils in the blanching and rinsing tanks, and the blanching tank liquid is then set in circulation by means of the pump 35. With the valves 32, 39 and 43 closed, the liquid will be drawn from the discharge or .outlet end of the blanching tank and returned to the inlet or receiving end of this tank through the nozzles of the manifold 33 so that the flow of the liquid in the tank will be always toward the upwardly inclined conveyor l8. The sliced vegetable or fruit when fed into the blanching tank by the supply conveyor 23 will settle down through the liquid onto the lowest part of the conveyor I8 and will be slowly conveyed through the liquid and discharged into the rinse liquid from which it is removed by conveyor The constantly moving liquid functions to hold the material being treated upon the conveyor while it is moved in the same direction as the liquid movement.

Any particles. starchy substance or other matter will settle into the bottom of the blanching tank. When it is desired to remove this matter, this may be accomplished without stopping the operation of the machine or the circulation of the blanching liquid byopening the valve 39 in the pipe 38 so as to force some of the circulated liquid under pump pressure through the lower or sediment moving manifold, and at the same time opening or partly opening the valves 32 to admit hot and cold liquid into the mixing coupling 29. The admission of additional liquid through the pipes 30 and 3! will, of course, compensate for that discharged through the outlet pipe I5 with sediment. The forcible iniection of liquid from the nozzles of the lower manifold 21 along the downwardly incl ned tank bottom l3 toward the outlet 14 will effect the movement of the sediment toward and out of the outlet without causing it to rise and remix with the clear liquid in the tank above the level of the baiiie 48.

The rapidity of the circulation in the blanching tank may be controlled through operation of the valve 31. When the level of the blanching liquid is to be lowered to decrease the blanching time, the surplus liquid is run off through the overflow into the auxiliary or storage tank 42, until the desired new level is attained. The excess liquid is stored until the level is to be raised again when it may be reintroduced into the blanching tank by opening the valve 43 to allow the pump to draw it out and return it through the manifold 33.

By properly adjusting the valves 32 in the supply pipes 30 and 3!, the proper mixture of hot and cold liquid can be maintained to provide the proper temperature of liquid entering the blanching tank soas not to change the temperature of the liquid used for the blanching operation.

From the foregoing it will be seen that in the present invention there is provided a novel blanching or parboiling machine in which the treating liquid may be readily controlled as to temperature, depth in the tank and changing and in which the sediment may be easily and efilciently removed without interrupting the operation of the machine and Without diluting the liquid or changing the temperature thereof. Thus, the present machine may be used in conjunction with a dehydrating machine or a frier 6 and will feed such machines at a continuous rate of speed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A blanching machine comprising an elongated tank for the reception of a treating liquid, an upwardly inclined conveyor in the tank and having its lower end near the bottom of the tank adjacent one end thereof, means adjacent the upper end of the conveyor to receive material discharged therefrom, means for feeding material into the tank onto the lower end of the conveyor, a liquid nozzle in the tank at an elevation above the lower end of the conveyor and directed toward the conveyor, liquid circulating means including a pump for drawing oil liquid from the end of the tank remote from the nozzle and returning it under pressure into the tank through the nozzle, a second nozzle beneath the first nozzle at an elevation to discharge below the lower end of the conveyor and along the bottom of the tank, a valved supply pipe connecting the second nozzle with the return side of the liquid circulating means, and a sediment outlet at the end of the tank remote from the nozzles.

2. A blanching machine comprising an elongated tank designed to contain a blanching liquid, a reticulate conveyor for conveying material lengthwise through the tank from a. low level within the tank at one end to an elevation above the liquid level at the opposite end, a manifold extending across the interior of the tank at the said one end at an elevation above said low level and having liquid outlets directed toward the said opposite end and toward said reticulate conveyor, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a pipe leading from the said opposite end of the tank to the pump inlet, a valved pipe leading from the pump outlet to said manifold, a second manifold below the first and having liquid outlets directed toward the said opposite end of the tank and disposed at a level to discharge beneath the lowest part of said conveyor, a valved pipe connected at one end with the second manifold and connected at its other end with the first valved pipe between its valve and the pump, a downwardly inclined deflector plate interposed between the manifolds and extending under the adjacent lowest portion of said conveyor and terminating short of the bottom of the tank, a valved sediment outlet at the end of the tank remote from the manifolds and at the approximate level of the bottom of the tank, and a horizontal bafile plate extending from the end wall of the tank opposite from and extending toward said manifolds and lying above saidlsediment outlet.

3. A blanching machine as set forth in claim 2, including a mixing chamber connected with the second-named manifold, and a pair of valvecontrolled liquid supply pipes connected with said mixing chamber.

4. A blanching machine comprising an elongated tank designed to contain a blanching liquid, 9. reticulate conveyor for moving material lengthwise through the tank from a low level at one end to an elevation above the liquid at the other end, the tank having a bottom downwardly inclined in the direction of movement of the material therethrough, means for effecting continuous movement of the liquid from the said one end of the tank to the said other end to continuously urge the material against the conveyor as it is tank bottom, an elongated liquid discharge manifold mounted within and transversely of the tank adjacent its bottom for discharging liquid under pressure along the inclined tank bottom toward said sediment outlet, and means for supplying liquid under pressure to said manifold.

5. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, a perforate conveyor in the tank for conveying material through the tank liquid, a sediment outlet communicating with the interior of the tank, an elongated manifold mounted within and transversely of the tank adjacent the bottom thereof and extending for substantially the width of the tank, said manifold having a series of liquid outlets for discharging liquid under pressure below said conveyor and along the tank bottom toward the sediment outlet, and means for supplying llqui under pressure to said manifold.

6. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, an upwardly inclined perforate conveyor in the tank for conveying material through the tank liquid, said tank having a downwardly inclined bottom, a sediment outlet at the level of the lower end of the tank bottom, an elongated manifold mounted within and transversely of the tank adjacent the bottom thereof and the end of the tank remote from said sediment outlet, said manifold having a series of liquid outlets for directing liquid under pressure below said conveyor and along the inclined tank bottom toward the sediment outlet, and means for supplying liquid under pressure to said manifold.

7. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid, an upwardly inclined reticulate conveyor in the tank for conveying material through the tank liquid and discharging the same from the tank, a liquid discharge nozzle in the tank at an elevation above the lower end of the conveyor and directed toward the conveyor, liquid circulating means including a pump for drawing liquid from the end of the tank remote from the nozzle and reinjecting the liquid under pressure through said nozzle, heating means beneath the conveyor, said tank having a bottom inclined downwardly toward that end adjacent the liquid draw-01f means, a sediment outlet at the lower end of the bottom, an elongated manifold extending across the tank at a level below the nozzle and having a series of outlets for directing liquid along said bottom toward said sediment outlet, and means for supplying liquid under pressure to the manifold from the liquid circulating means, said manifold discharging below the lower end of the conveyor.

8. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid and having inlet and outlet end portions, a reticulate material conveyor extending lengthwise of and lying within the tank and arranged to carry material from a low level therein adjacent the inlet end portion of the tank to an elevation at the outlet end of the tank above the liquid level, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a pipe connecting the pump inlet with the outlet end portion of the tank, a pipe leading from the pump gulet into the tank at the inlet end portion theref, a liquid distributing manifold within and extending transversely of the tank at the inlet end portion of the tank and connected with the second-mentioned pipe, said manifold having a series of liquid outlets directed toward the conveyor and the outlet end of the tank, an adjustable liquid overflow for the tank, an auxiliary receptacle connected with said overflow to receive and reserve for future use liquid drained from the tank through the overflow, a valved pipe connecting the auxiliary receptacle with the pump inlet, a second manifold within and extending across the end of the tank below the first manifold and having liquid outlets directed toward the outlet end of the tank, said last outlets being in a plane to discharge liquid along the bottom of the tank below the lowest end of the con veyor, a valved pipe connected between the second manifold and the pipe leading from the pump outlet, and a valved sediment outlet at the end of the tank remote from the manifolds and at approximately the level of the tank bottom.

9. A blanching machine comprising a tank for the reception of a treating liquid and having inlet and outlet end portions, a reticulate material conveyor extending lengthwise of and lying within the tank and arranged to carry material from a low level therein adjacent the inlet end portion of the tank to an elevation at the outlet end of the tank above the liquid level, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, a .pipe connecting the pump inlet with the outlet end portion of the tank, a pipe leading from the pump outlet into the tank at the inlet end portion thereof, a liquid distributing manifold within and extending transversely of the tank at the inlet end portion of the tank and connected with the second-memtioned pipe, said manifold having a series of liquid outlets directed toward the conveyor and the outlet end of the tank, a second manifold within and extending across the end of the tank below the first manifold and having liquid outlets directed toward the outlet end of the tank, said last-named outlets being'in a plane to discharge liquid along the bottom of the tank below the lower end of the conveyor, a valved pipe connecting the second manifold with the pipe leading from the pump outlet, and a valved sediment outlet at the end of the tank remote from the manifolds and at approximately the level of the tank bottom.

FREEMAN M. McBETH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,506,232 Fleming Aug. 26, 1924 1,605,203 Baxter Nov. 2, 1926 1,707,786 Ehrhart Apr. 2, 1929 1,130,531 Miller Mar. 2, 1915 1,534,207 Foster Apr. 21, 1925 2,262,465 Olney Nov. 11, 1941 1,705,544 Schmidt Mar. 19, 1929 1,213,843 Coulbourn Jan. 30, 1917 

